Is our roam-ote lifestyle over?

ExplorOz Roamote Work Lifestyle

Over the past few years, we’ve managed all things ExplorOz from the road. From a compact offroad camper towed by our 200 Series LandCruiser, we’ve released eight Traveller app updates, launched the 2024 and 2025 EOTopo editions, produced a podcast series, kept up with social media, and run product demos — all while embracing a mostly off-grid lifestyle powered by solar and connected by Starlink.

We’ve travelled across every state and territory, camping mostly in remote bush locations and juggling work with hiking, cycling and exploration. With most support handled via app stores and minimal customer demands, it has all been working well, but this trip hasn’t been without its setbacks. For those who missed our podcasts, blogs and social media, this blog is your catch-up — covering the past 17 months and, for the first time, sharing the details of our recent challenges and what’s next for the ExplorOz Roamote Lifestyle.
You can also check out our 2023–2025 Australia Trip Playlist on YouTube for video highlights, or checkout our Podcast series.

December 2023: Perth to Sydney via the Nullarbor

After delays due to camper delivery and family logistics, we finally hit the road in December. From Perth, we crossed the Nullarbor, stopping in the Fleurieu Peninsula and Sydney for family catch-ups, avoiding the holiday chaos before heading to Tasmania.

Jan - April 2024: Tasmania & Victoria

Early in the year, Michelle returned to Perth for a family emergency while David stayed in Sydney to complete the 2024 EOTopo release. Once reunited, we finally made it to Tasmania. What was meant to be six weeks turned into twelve — we fell in love with the place and found our rhythm for working and travelling.




In April, we returned to the mainland to chase the winter sun. At the Grampians, a routine detour led us to two children in distress — their father had fallen while geocaching. Our involvement led to a successful rescue and national media coverage. A year on, we’ve reconnected with Brian, who’s made a strong recovery.


Later that month, we drove back to Perth — a 14-day dash for family reasons.

May - July 2024: Perth

Back in Perth, our time was consumed with family support, property maintenance, and vehicle servicing. We stayed focused on responsibilities before heading off again in early August

August - October 2024: Across Central Australia to Qld

We left Perth via the Great Central Road to attend the Ultimate Campers Muster in Central Australia, continued east via the Plenty Highway, and then headed north through Queensland — Winton to Undara, then west through the Savannah region, and into the tropical north. Our goal: chase rainforests, waterfalls, gorges, and hikes we’d missed in previous trips. A special stop in Gladstone in October brought the family together for Mum’s 80th on Heron Island — her 10th visit, our first.

In Rockhampton, we joined the e-MTB scene, inspired by the growing gravity parks around Australia. My old bike was sent back to Sydney and sold, while David’s cracked frame had to be retired.

November - Dec 2024: Great Dividing Range

Post-Heron Island, we followed the Great Dividing Range south — exploring trails and parks, soaking up some of the best scenery in SE Queensland.

Eventually, we returned to Sydney earlier than expected to help with a major bathroom renovation and to finalise the 2025 EOTopo release.

Jan - April 2025: Tasmania & Victoria (Take Two)

By late January, we were back in Tasmania — revisiting favourites and catching up with friends from the NT muster. Highlights included summiting Cradle Mountain, Mt Rufus, Mt Roland, and an unforgettable Pennicott boat tour, plus MTB at Derby, Sheffield (Wild Mersey) and lots more.




In March, we returned to Victoria to explore the Otways and Great Ocean Road, ride MTB trails around Anglesea and Forrest, and reconnect with friends. A mishap on the Spirit of Tasmania saw our car key fob disappear — thankfully recovered in Geelong. We retraced our steps, then continued north through central Victoria, riding more MTB trails in Forest, Creswick, Harcourt before heading deep into the state forests around Yea, Healesville, and Marysville with more MTB riding in Buxton, and Lake Mountain where we enjoyed the long Cascades downhill track. Gorgeous Wilsons Prom was next, then up into East Gippsland, catching up with friends in Sale and then heading into the High Country — riding MTB trails in Omeo, Falls Creek, Mt Beauty, Bright, and exploring Bogong High Plains and Mt Buffalo 4WD tracks and huts, before reaching Albury to collect Kai for his 21st.



We celebrated in the Snowy Mountains with two weeks of adventure — attending the Man from Snowy River Festival (Corryong), camping and cycling the Bicentennial Trail, and the Thredbo gravity trails using the chair lifts and gondala. But the trip came to a crashing halt — literally. I suffered a serious MTB injury breaking multiple bones and ending up in Cooma hospital. And in a bizarre twist of fate —10 days later in Sydney, David crashed too! In hospital, a hidden heart condition was found, resulting in an AICD implant! With both of us injured, further driving is off the cards.

Now: Recovery in Sydney

We've been parked up in Sydney since the end of Easter whilst all this dramas has unfolded and are focusing on healing and reassessing. Whilst it's a bit challenging, there’s been no interruption to customer service — just a bit more creativity with one-handed workflows and voice-to-text tools. David’s using this time to overhaul systems and lay the groundwork for the next round of ExplorOz Traveller app improvements.

Whats Next for ExplorOz?

It’s business as usual - we got this. We just have to be patient in Sydney and let the healing take it's course. David cannot drive until he get's the all-clear from his cardiologist, and Michelle has 8 broken ribs together with them both having broken collarbones. Travelling 4000km+ is out of the question for now.
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